Today I had the amazing opportunity to observe Sienna! Sienna’s tutoring session with her junior high school student was structured yet engaging, striking a balance between academic rigour and interactive learning. She displayed a high level of patience and adaptability, ensuring that the student remained both focused and comfortable throughout the session.

At the start, Sienna asked the student to explain her current understanding of the topic, using open-ended questions to assess any gaps in knowledge. Today’s session focused on algebraic expressions, and rather than immediately providing solutions, Sienna encouraged the student to think critically. When the student hesitated on a problem involving simplifying expressions, Sienna guided her with step-by-step prompts, such as, “What happens when we combine like terms?” and “Can you see any patterns here?” This approach allowed the student to actively engage with the material rather than passively receiving answers.

Midway through the session, they played a game of Uno as a short break. Sienna used this time to build rapport, chatting casually while still maintaining a structured session. She seamlessly transitioned back into the lesson by integrating elements of problem-solving into their conversation. This helped reinforce mathematical thinking in a relaxed setting.

As the session progressed, Sienna continually checked for understanding, rephrasing explanations when needed and prompting the student to verbalize her reasoning. By the end, the student demonstrated improved confidence in approaching algebraic problems. Sienna concluded by summarising key takeaways and setting a small practice task for the next session. Her patient and inquiry-based teaching style fostered a supportive learning environment, ensuring that the student left feeling both challenged and encouraged.

Sophie McGrath